The Safe and Sound Protocol

Gentle and Effective Support for Nervous System Regulation and Healing

It’s commonly believed that the brain directs our daily experiences. But in truth, the stories you hold about who you are, how the world works, what you do, and why you feel what you feel all begin in your body, with the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS).

The nervous system is at the core of our human experience. It shapes how we connect with ourselves and others, respond to life’s challenges, and navigate the world around us. Designed to help us survive in danger and thrive in safety, the nervous system directly impacts and influences our mental, emotional, physical, and social well-being.

In today’s fast-paced, overstimulating world, many people are living in a state of chronic nervous system dysregulation, stuck in patterns of fight, flight, or shutdown. This dysregulation is increasingly recognized as a root contributor to a wide range of stress-related conditions, including anxiety, depression, chronic pain, fatigue, sleep and digestive issues, PTSD and more. When the nervous system is out of balance, even the most insightful psychological work can feel out of reach.

And for those who experience the world with heightened sensitivity - emotionally, physically, or energetically - nervous system regulation is especially vital.

Grounded in Polyvagal Theory, nervous system-informed interventions such as the Safe and Sound Protocol work with your biology first, helping you shift out of survival mode and into engagement and healing. By befriending the nervous system, we lay the foundation for lasting change in both the body and mind.

What is the Safe and Sound Protocol?

The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is a powerful, evidence-based listening intervention designed to support nervous system regulation and enhance overall resilience, balance and well-being. Using specially filtered music, the SSP gently stimulates the vagus nerve — a key player in the autonomic nervous system — helping shift the body out of survival mode and into states of safety, connection, and calm.

Delivered through brief, personalized sessions totalling five hours of listening, the SSP supports improvements in mental, emotional, physical, and social well-being. It helps create a more flexible and resilient nervous system, laying the foundation for healing and growth.

But the SSP is more than just a music program — it’s a holistic pathway to regulation and reconnection. It invites a collaborative journey between you, your practitioner, and the protocol itself, creating space for the body and brain to realign in service of healing. As regulation increases, many clients experience transformative shifts: greater mental clarity, physical and emotional ease, deeper connection in relationships, and a renewed sense of safety and possibility in daily life.

Whether used as a stand-alone tool or integrated into other therapeutic approaches, the SSP helps restore the biological foundation for lasting change from the inside out.

How Does the Safe and Sound Protocol Work?

As one of the primary communication pathways between the brain and body, the vagus nerve plays a key role in regulating stress, inflammation, emotional state, and our sense of connection. By enhancing vagal tone, the SSP helps restore balance and supports the body’s natural ability to move out of survival-based responses and into states of calm, safety, and engagement.

The SSP works by delivering specially filtered music, processed through a patented, evidence-based algorithm designed to emphasize frequencies that support social connection and nervous system regulation. As you listen over time, your system begins to repattern itself, building new neural pathways and increasing flexibility in how you respond to stress. This isn’t just about relaxation, it’s about reshaping your nervous system, empowering you to move through life with greater resilience, clarity, and ease.

Areas of Improvement

Many clients report noticeable improvements in a range of areas as regulation begins to increase. These shifts may emerge gradually for some, including up to 2 to 7 weeks after completing the SSP, while others may notice changes more immediately. The timing and nature of improvements vary from person to person, reflecting the unique rhythms of each person’s nervous system and present circumstances.

Improvements stem from the SSP’s ability to help the nervous system shift out of chronic protection states and into a mode of social engagement and connection. As the system begins to experience safety and calm, the body and mind can both function more optimally and respond to stressors with greater resilience and flexibility.

Potential areas for change include:

Cognitive & Emotional Functioning

  • Emotional Regulation: Improved ability to manage emotions and reduce emotional reactivity

  • Focus and Attention: Increased capacity to concentrate and stay present

  • Communication Skills: Enhanced ability to process and respond to social cues

  • Trauma Recovery: Support for individuals navigating PTSD or trauma-related conditions

Physical Health & Body Function

  • Improved Digestion: Enhanced parasympathetic activity via vagus nerve stimulation, supporting gut health

  • Better Sleep: Improved sleep quality through nervous system regulation

  • Reduced Inflammation: Increased vagal tone may help decrease inflammation

  • Chronic Pain Management: Relief from chronic pain as the body shifts out of defensive states

Stress & Autonomic Regulation

  • Stress Reduction: Lower physiological stress responses and improved autonomic balance

  • Heart Rate Variability (HRV): Increased HRV, indicating a more adaptable nervous system

  • Respiratory Function: More regulated breathing patterns, supporting relaxation and energy

Sensory & Auditory Processing

  • Auditory Processing: Better ability to distinguish human voices from background noise

  • Sensory Processing: Reduced sensitivities and increased tolerance to sensory stimuli

Social & Relational Engagement

  • Social Engagement: Greater ease in connecting with others, including improved eye contact, facial expressions, and vocal prosody

  • Overall Well-being: A deeper sense of safety and calm, contributing to improved mental and physical health

What to Expect: The SSP Process

Following a brief consultation and assessment to confirm that I’m a good fit as your SSP provider, we’ll schedule your initial session. This is where we’ll begin crafting your personalized listening protocol and walk through how to download and use the app that contains the SSP music. You’ll also receive a few intake forms to complete beforehand so I can get a clear understanding of your goals and current nervous system profile.

From there, you’ll begin listening according to your tailored plan. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach; the key is learning to attune to your body and respond to what it’s asking for. If something feels uncomfortable at any point, we adjust. With the SSP, more is not always more and faster is not always better.

Following each listening session, you’re invited to reflect on your experience and share updates through an online shared document. The SSP is designed to meet you exactly where you are and evolve with you as you move through the various sections of the protocol.

The Safe and Sound Protocol Overview

What’s Included:

  • Initial session to explore your goals, complete a basic mapping of your nervous system, and co-create a personalized listening plan

  • Access to the SSP app for six months, with a structured listening protocol tailored to your needs and capacity

  • Email check-ins after each hour of listening to reflect, adjust pacing, and support integration

  • Ongoing weekday email support to answer questions and offer guidance as needed

  • Optional support sessions available for deeper check-ins, provider-guided listening, or skill-building

Additional Requirements:

  • Over-the-Ear Headphones: Required for optimal listening and effectiveness

  • Assessment & Consent Forms: Must be completed before starting the program

  • SSP User Account: You’ll receive instructions to download the app and create your login credentials

Before we Begin:

All clients are asked to complete an initial assessment form as part of the intake process. This helps ensure that the SSP is a good fit and that your needs are within my scope of practice. If it is determined that completing the SSP with me isn’t the best fit, I’m happy to provide referrals to other providers who may be better suited to your needs.

Additional Support Before Starting SSP:

If you’d like to begin with a few sessions to more deeply understand, map and track your nervous sytem profile and patterns, build and practice regulation skills and strategies, or explore readiness, we can talk about that together and tailor the experience to what feels most supportive.

During the Program:

Listening sessions will take place in your own space, either on your own or with a support person present (physically or virtually). Sessions typically range from 5 to 30 minutes and may occur daily, every other day, or spaced out over several days — depending on your nervous system’s readiness and what feels supportive. You’re highly encouraged to gently track your experience, notice shifts, and reach out if anything feels unclear or uncomfortable.

At the end of each hour of listening, we’ll connect via email to reflect on your experience. These check-ins help us name any changes and ensure the protocol continues to meet your needs before moving forward.

Pricing:

$850 CAD (Payment plans are available. Please feel free to speak to me about possible options)

Optional Support Sessions: $90 per 30-minute session | $180 per 60-minute session
These can be added at any time and may include:

  • Deeper check-ins and processing, nervous system mapping and/or regulation skill-building

  • Provider-supported listening sessions

  • Integration support and reflection

*Note for those living in Ontario, Canada: Many extended health benefits plans offer coverage for services provided by a Registered Social Worker, including Social Work and/or Psychotherapy. I encourage you to check with your provider, as you may be eligible for partial or full reimbursement.

If you’re ready to begin or have questions about the Safe and Sound Protocol, click the button below. I’d love to hear from you.